What is Holiday Heart Syndrome? It's Not a Hallmark Movie. I think Holiday Heart IS the title of a Hallmark movie, but I'm referring to something more serious - the spike in emergencies around the holidays. In medicine, holiday heart syndrome refers to an increase in abnormal heart rhythms around the holidays. Let's explore some factors that can lead to holiday heart syndrome, or other emergencies that uptick during the holiday season. What Causes Holiday Heart Syndrome? Dietary Changes Think about your holiday menu. Do you often make the same foods that you've had growing up? They might not be the best options. Foods such as ham and canned goods can be high in sodium. Ingesting too much salt can lead to fluid retention and elevated blood pressure. Consider serving an alternative, or providing a variety of options for yourself and guests. Too Much Alcohol People tend to drink more alcohol during the holiday season compared to other times of the year ( ...
Content warning: mentions cancer and death If I had a dollar for every time a patient came into my office and said they “want to be checked for cancer,” well…I probably wouldn’t be writing this blog post! There is no single universal test for cancer, but common things happen commonly. Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths when men and women are combined ( cancer.org ). Screening for colorectal cancer should be on your list to be “checked for cancer.” For those at average risk, screening for colorectal cancer should begin at age 45 ( cdc.gov ). If you want to know more about colorectal cancer incidence, risk factors and screening methods, then check out last week's blog post here . I am at increased risk for colorectal cancer, because my father died from complications of colon cancer when he was only 45. So though I’m only in my thirties, I’ve already had my first screening colonoscopy, which is the gold standard screening method for individuals a...